Effect of Two Opiine Parasitoids (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) Introduced for Fruit Fly Control on a Native Hawaiian Tephritid,Trupanea dubautiae(Diptera: Tephritidae)

Diachasmimorpha longicaudata(Ashmead) andPsyttalia fletcheri(Silvestri) are opiine parasitoids introduced into Hawaii for control of the Oriental fruit fly,Bactrocera dorsalis(Hendel) and the melon fly,Bactrocera cucurbitae(Coquillett), respectively. Both species have recently been mass-reared and released for research in augmentative biocontrol programs. Laboratory and field sleeve cage experiments were conducted to investigate the potential impact of mass-producedD. longicaudataandP. fletcherion a native Hawaiian tephritid,Trupanea dubautiae(Bryan), infesting the flowerheads of the native composite shrubDubautia raillardioidesHillebrand. Gravid females ofD. longicaudataandP. fletcheriwere confined with bloomingD. raillardioidesflowerheads infested with late instarT. dubautiae.BothD. longicaudataandP. fletcherilacked positive oviposition responses toT. dubautiaelarvae in infested flowerheads and caused neither parasitism nor mortality to the flies. However, when larvae were removed from the flowerheads and presented in screened dishes containing artificial diet of the parasitoids' normal rearing hosts (B. dorsalisandB. cucurbitae), bothD. longicaudataandP. fletcherireadily oviposited in the test larvae. Oviposition byD. longicaudatadid not significantly affect the percentage pupation ofT. dubautiae,but did reduce the emergence of adult flies. Oviposition byP. fletcherisignificantly reduced both pupation and adult fly emergence. All progeny of both parasitoid species died as eggs or first-instar larvae. Results from our experiments demonstrate that biological control programs targeted against frugivorous tephritid pests byD. longicaudataandP. fletcherihave no harmful impact on flowerhead-infestingT. dubautiae.     

The Distribution of an Introduced Mollusc and its Role in the Long-term Demise of a Native Confamilial Species

The estuarine mud snail, Batillaria attramentaria, was transported to the Pacific coast of North America with the Pacific oyster, Crassostrea gigas (C. gigas), imported from Japan in the early part of this century, and has proliferated in several bays where the oyster was introduced. Since the arrival of Batillaria there have been declines in populations of its native ecological equivalent, Cerithidea californica. This study documents the distribution of the exotic Batillaria throughout its entire introduced range, concentrating on the few bays in northern California where both snails exist sympatrically. Using dates of initial importation of C. gigas and dates of first documentation of Batillaria within a bay, I established the earliest possible date for the introduction of Batillaria in a particular area. In cases where Cerithidea also was, or had been, present within a bay, I calculated a range of time for either the continued coexistence of the two species or the time until local exclusion of the native. Density measurements of Cerithidea within these bays where the species co-occurred allowed comparison of present Cerithidea numbers to historical accounts. Results indicated that Batillaria is replacing Cerithidea in the northern marshes of California. This replacement of the northernmost Cerithidea populations is not only reducing Cerithidea's overall range, but also eliminating a race recently shown to be a genetically distinct from southern Cerithidea populations. Other studies that have demonstrated superior exploitative competitive ability by Batillaria provide a potential mechanism for this displacement pattern. Regardless, the results presented here indicate that the displacement process is slow, taking on average >50 years to complete. This study illustrates a gradual, but predictable process of exotic replacement of native species, and argues strongly against complacency toward invaders that may currently seem innocuous. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Impact Scenario for an Introduced Decapod on Arctic Epibenthic Communities

The intentional introduction of a species for the enhancement of stock or establishment of new fisheries, often has unforeseen effects. The red king crabs, Paralithodes camtschaticus, which was introduced into the Barents Sea by Russian scientists, has established a self-sustaining population that has expanded into Norwegian waters. As top benthic predators, the introduced red king crabs may have possible effects upon native epifaunal scallop (Chlamys islandica) communities. These benthic communities may be a source of prey species in late spring, when the red king crabs feed most intensively. Foraging rates (consumption, killing or severely damaging) of red king crab on native prey organisms were measured by factorial manipulation of crab density (0.5, 1.5 and 3 per m ²), size classes (immature, small mature, and large mature crabs), and by evaluating prey consumption after 48 h, in order to extrapolate a scenario of the likely impacts. Foraging rates of the red king crab on scallops ranged between 150 and 335 g per m² within 48 h. These rates did not change when crab density was altered, though an increased amount of crushed scallops left uneaten at the tank floor, were correlated with high density of small mature crabs. Foraging rate changed significantly with crab size. Consequently, the susceptibility of native, shallow water epibenthic communities to red king crab predation in the early life history stages, and during the post-mating/molting spring period, must be considered significant when foraging rates are contrasted with natural scallop biomass between 400 and 1200 g scallops per m².     

天然红海榄种群分布格局研究

以湛江高桥红树林自然保护区中的天然红海榄种群为对象,采用相邻格子法进行野外调查,同时根据红海榄种群个体定位图,运用扩散系数、聚集指数、聚块性指数、扩散型指数、平均拥挤度、负二项参数、Cassie.R.M.指标,分析天然红海榄种群在不同潮带、不同群落类型及不同取样尺度下的空间分布格局。结果表明:红海榄种群在高潮带和低潮带中趋向于随机分布的空间格局,中潮带则呈现为明显的聚集分布;红海榄种群在纯林中的分布格局略偏向于随机型,在混交林中则呈现较强的聚集分布,聚集度指标表现为C>1,Iδ>1,K<8,m*/>1,Ca>0;红海榄种群在不同取样尺度的分布格局存在差异,聚集强度随着取样尺度的增大而减弱,在取样尺度为5m×5m时呈现明显的聚集分布,取样尺度为5m×10m时亦表现为聚集分布但聚集强度相对较小,取样尺度为10m×10m时其空间格局介于聚集分布与随机分布的临界状态。红海榄种群的分布格局与生境条件的异质性以及红海榄自身的生物学特性有关。     

A model for wave control on coral breakage and species distribution in the Hawaiian Islands

The fringing reef off southern Molokai, Hawaii, is currently being studied as part of a multi-disciplinary project led by the US Geological Survey. As part of this study, modeling and field observations were utilized to help understand the physical controls on reef morphology and the distribution of different coral species. A model was developed that calculates wave-induced hydrodynamic forces on corals of a specific form and mechanical strength. From these calculations, the wave conditions under which specific species of corals would either be stable or would break due to the imposed wave-induced forces were determined. By combining this hydrodynamic force-balance model with various wave model output for different oceanographic conditions experienced in the study area, we were able to map the locations where specific coral species should be stable (not subject to frequent breakage) in the study area. The combined model output was then compared with data on coral species distribution and coral cover at 12 sites along Molokais south shore. Observations and modeling suggest that the transition from one coral species to another may occur when the ratio of the coral colonys mechanical strengths to the applied (wave-induced) forces may be as great as 5:1, and not less than 1:1 when corals would break. This implies that coral colonys mechanical strength and wave-induced forces may be important in defining gross coral community structure over large (orders of 10s of meters) spatial scales.     

Impacts of biological control and invasive species on a non-target native Hawaiian insect

The potential for classical biological control to cause unintended harm to native species was evaluated in the case of the endemic Hawaiian koa bug, Coleotichus blackburniae White (Hemiptera: Scutelleridae), and parasitoids introduced to Hawaii for control of an agricultural pest, the southern green stink bug, Nezara viridula (L.) (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae). Parasitism of C. blackburniae eggs, nymphs and adults by biocontrol agents was quantified across a wide range of habitats and compared to other sources of mortality. Egg mortality due to the biocontrol agent Trissolcus basalis Wollaston (Hymenoptera: Scelionidae) was low (maximum 26%) and confined to elevations below 500 m on a single host plant. Predation, mainly by alien spiders and ants, was the greatest source of egg mortality (maximum 87%). Parasitism of adult C. blackburniae by the biocontrol agent Trichopoda pilipes (F.) (Diptera: Tachinidae) was near zero at 21 of 24 sites surveyed. Three sites with high bug density had higher levels of T. pilipes parasitism, reaching maxima of 70% among adult female bugs, 100% among males and 50% among fifth instars. Male-biased parasitism indicated that T. pilipes is adapted to using male aggregation pheromone for finding C. blackburniae hosts. The relative impacts of biocontrol agents and other sources of mortality were compared using life tables. Invasive species, particularly generalist egg predators, had the greatest impacts on C. blackburniae populations. Effects of intentionally introduced parasitoids were relatively minor, although the tachinid T. pilipes showed potential for large impacts at individual sites. In retrospect, non-target attacks by biological control agents on C. blackburniae were predictable, but the environmental range and magnitude of impacts would have been difficult to foresee.     

Population Structure and Variation in Red Snapper (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Lutjanus campechanus</Emphasis>) from the Gulf of Mexico and Atlantic Coast of Florida as Determined from Mitochondrial DNA Control Region Sequence

The mitochondrial DNA control regions of red snapper (Lutjanus campechanus) from the Gulf of Mexico (n = 140) and Atlantic coast of Florida (n = 35) were sequenced to generate a prestocking genetic baseline for planned stock enhancement. Intrasample haplotype and nucleotide diversities ranged from 0.94 to 1.00 and 1.8% to 2.5%, respectively. All population analyses were consistent with the hypothesis that red snapper constitute a single, panmictic population over the sampled range. A ubiquitous, predominant haplotype, shared by 23% of the specimens, appeared to be evolutionarily recent, in contrast to previous findings based on restriction fragment length polymorphism data. Tajimas D values were suggestive of a recent bottleneck. Mismatch distributions from Gulf samples were smooth and unimodal, characteristic of recent population expansion. However, the Atlantic sample exhibited a comparatively broader, possibly multimodal distribution, suggestive of a more stable population history. Additional control-region data may clarify potentially disparate demographic histories of Gulf and Atlantic snapper.     

Native and Introduced Ecosystem Engineers Produce Contrasting Effects on Estuarine Infaunal Communities

Cordgrasses in the genus Spartina are good examples of ecosystem engineers that modify habitat structure in estuaries throughout the world. In San Francisco Bay, California, USA, marshes containing native California cordgrass (Spartina foliosa) are being invaded by a hybrid (S. alterniflora × S. foliosa) formed after introduction of S. alterniflora. This study compared vegetation, sediment structure, and infaunal invertebrates in native and invaded marshes. We hypothesized that differences in the physical structure between S. foliosa and hybrid Spartina would be reflected in differences in density, biomass, diversity, and taxonomic composition of infauna. Hybrid Spartina modifies habitat structure more than S. foliosa by producing taller stems, and greater plant biomass both above- and belowground while occupying a much wider tidal range, thereby transforming open mudflats to a vegetated habitat. In general, S. foliosa areas contained significantly higher densities of benthic infauna than adjacent mudflats, while hybrid Spartina areas never contained greater infaunal densities than mudflats. This is because S. foliosa produces a moderate level of structure that can facilitate benthic invertebrates, whereas hybrid Spartina produces so much structure, particularly belowground, that it actually excludes invertebrates. Therefore, we suggest that these two closely related species both act as ecosystem engineers, but with opposing effects on invertebrate communities.     

Effects of Nitrogen and Salinity on Growth and Competition Between a Native Grass and an Invasive Congener

Numerous studies show that an increase in the availability of limiting resources can increase invasion by non-native plants into natural communities. One possible explanation is that the ability of natives to compete with non-natives tends to decrease when resource availability is increased. We tested this hypothesis in a competition experiment using two closely matched plant species and two environmental factors related to limiting resources in a coastal grassland system on Bodega Head in northern California. We grew the native grass Bromus carinatus and the non-native grass B. diandrus together and apart at different levels of soil nitrogen crossed with different levels of soil salinity. Both species are abundant in the grassland and previous work suggested that the abundance of B. carinatus is lower and the abundance of B. diandrus is higher on soil that has been enriched with nitrogen. Salinity has been shown to be negatively associated with invasion by B. diandrus into another California grassland, and to vary significantly over short distances in the grassland at Bodega Head, where it could affect water availability, which strongly limits plant growth during the dry season. Contrary to our prediction that low resource availabilities would increase the relative competitive ability of the native, the ability of B. carinatus to compete with B. diandrus was not greater when nitrogen availability was lower or when soil salinity was higher. Instead, high salinity increased the relative competitive ability of the non-native, and low nitrogen had little effect on competition. This suggests that preventing resource enrichment will not suffice to control invasion by non-native plant species in this grassland.     

Spatial and temporal pattern of introduced Bombus terrestris abundance in Hokkaido, Japan, and its potential impact on native bumblebees

A commercial colony of Bombus terrestris (L.) was introduced to Japan in 1992 for crop pollination in greenhouses. Since then wild colonies have developed and spread in some regions. In the present study, we measured the spatial distribution and temporal change in abundance of B. terrestris in the Chitose River Basin, Hokkaido, Japan to elucidate the relation of greenhouses to the bees distribution and to evaluate its potential effects on native bumblebees. Bumblebees were collected with window traps in windbreak forests roughly 1, 2, 4, and 6 km NNW and SSE of a large greenhouse. The peak catch of B. terrestris queens occurred in early June, suggesting that they had successfully hibernated in the field. The distributions of B. terrestris and the native B. ardens were mutually exclusive, while the native B. hypocrita appeared at all sites. Catches of B. terrestris were restricted to within 4 km of the nearest greenhouse, suggesting that the invasion was still in the initial phase in this area. The reduction in abundance of the native bumblebees in the sites of high B. terrestris abundance suggests the presence of interspecies competition between B. terrestris and the native bumblebees during the early part of the colony activity, although such reduction in B. ardens can be explained by habitat suitability.     

Spatial distribution of three phytochromes in dark- and light-grown Avena sativa L.

We have addressed two issues regarding the spatial distribution of three phytochromes in 3-d-old oat (Avena sativa L.) seedlings. Three monoclonal antibodies, GO-4, GO-7 and Oat-22, were used as probes. Each antibody detects only one of the phytochromes. The first issue is whether any of the phytochromes might be membrane-bound. To address this issue the abundance of each phytochrome in extracts prepared with either a detergent-free or a detergent-containing buffer was compared by immunoblot assay. The detergent-free buffer was formulated to extract only soluble protein, while the detergent-containing buffer was intended to extract both soluble and membrane proteins. None of the data indicate that any of these three phytochromes is membrane-bound in either a dark- or a light-grown seedling. The second issue is whether these three phytochromes are distributed differentially in 3-d-old dark- and light-grown seedlings. When seedlings were dissected into shoots, scutellums, and roots, all three phytochromes were detected in all three fractions from both dark- and light-grown seedlings. Each of the three phytochromes was most abundant in the shoot and least abundant in the root, except that in light-grown seedlings type I, etiolated-tissue phytochrome was more abundant in the root than in either the shoot or the scutellum. When the equivalent fractions dissected from different seedlings were compared, those dissected from dark-grown seedlings contained a higher quantity of each of the three phytochromes than did those dissected from light-grown seedlings, except that green-tissue, type II phytochromes did not differ significantly in the roots. At this level of resolution, no evidence was obtained to indicate a substantive difference among the three phytochromes in their spatial distribution. We thank Drs. Elizabeth Williams and Tammy Sage (Botany Department, University of Georgia, USA) for generously permitting us to use their image-analysis system. This research was supported by USDA NRICGP grant 91-37100-6490.     

中国蔷薇属植物物种丰富度分布格局及其与环境因子的关系

物种丰富度的大尺度地理格局及其成因是宏观生态学及生物地理学的中心议题之一。蔷薇属(Rosa L.)植物具有很高的经济价值和生态价值,探讨中国蔷薇属植物的丰富度分布格局及其影响因素可为该属植物资源的保护和合理开发利用乃至其系统进化研究提供重要依据。基于蔷薇属植物在中国的15451条分布数据和11种地理、气候等环境因子进行了物种丰富度分析和相关性分析,研究结果显示:(1)蔷薇属植物在中国分布不均匀。在水平方向上,蔷薇属植物于26.19°—34.29°N带内有较高的物种丰富度,之后随着纬度的增加而降低,且随着经度的增加表现为先增加后减少,于99.10°—108.47°E间存在明显的峰值;在垂直方向上,蔷薇属植物的物种丰富度随海拔的增加表现为先增加后减少,956.46—3518.60m范围内的丰富度最高。西南横断山区为蔷薇属物种分布的中心地区,新疆北部及东北长白山周边地区为局部聚集区。(2)蔷薇属物种丰富度与各能量、水分和生境异质性因子均呈正相关关系,与气候稳定性因子呈负相关关系。表明中国蔷薇属植物在水分和热量条件好、气候季节性变化小且生境异质性程度高的地方,有着更高的物种丰富度。(3)蔷薇属...     

Behavioural Overlap in Six Caribbean Labrid Species: Intra- and Interspecific Similarities

This study investigates behavioural similarities in six ecologically and morphologically similar labrid species. Ontogenetic shifts in behaviour within species are also considered. There have been many studies on ontogenetic differences in fishes with respect to diet, microhabitat use, and visual acuity and how it pertains to foraging ability; however, fewer studies have been specifically directed towards the ontogeny of behaviours. In this study, detailed behavioural observations were recorded of randomly chosen juveniles, initial phase, and terminal phase adults from each of the following species: Halichoeres bivittatus, H. garnoti, H. maculipinna, H. poeyi, and Thalassoma bifasciatum. Only juvenile H. radiatus were observed. The observation periods lasted 10min, and four periods per individual were pooled for analysis. There were many similarities and few striking differences in the behavioural profiles of the six species [discriminant function analysis (DFA) of behaviours correctly classified 60% of the individuals]. In some cases, life intervals within a species separated more strongly than heterospecifics of the same life interval. For example, H. bivittatus juveniles were more similar to H. maculipinna juveniles than to conspecific initial phase and terminal phase adults. From DFA, species were separated in the first discriminant function by an inverse relationship between the frequency of hiding (= out of view) and eating, and life intervals were separated in the second discriminant function by an inverse relationship between the frequency of swimming alone and eye flickering (= remaining motionless and twitching their eyes). Eye flickering is assumed to be a behaviour that increases an individual's awareness of predators or environmental threats. Notable differences among species included the greater frequencies of hiding by juvenile H. radiatus, and all life intervals of H. garnoti. As these labrids grow, they increase their frequencies of swimming alone, and decrease their frequencies of hovering and searching for food. There was a remarkable similarity in ontogenetic changes in these behaviours for all of the species studied.     

桥山林区麻栎种群不同发育阶段空间格局及关联性

为探究麻栎种群不同发育阶段的空间分布特征及关联性,以黄土高原南部桥山林区麻栎天然次生林为研究对象,用L(r)函数对麻栎种群不同发育阶段空间分布特征及关联性进行分析。结果表明:(1)样地内麻栎种群各发育阶段数量结构均为不规则倒"J"型,种群结构稳定,能实现持续更新。(2)麻栎种群总体的空间分布特征受生境异质性影响较大,纯林样地中,种群在0—10 m尺度上表现为高强度聚集分布,5—35 m尺度表现为低强度聚集;混交林样地中,0—5 m尺度上表现为高强度聚集分布,5—35 m尺度上则表现为低强度聚集分布。(3)随着种群的发育及尺度的增大,麻栎种群空间聚集强度减弱,纯林样地内,麻栎幼苗在0—6 m的小尺度表现为聚集分布,6—12 m尺度上表现为随机分布;幼树在各尺度上均表现为聚集分布;中龄树与成龄树在各尺度上均表现为随机分布。混交林样地中,仅幼苗在0—6 m尺度上表现为聚集分布,其余各阶段在各尺度下均趋于随机分布。(4)种群不同发育阶段不同尺度空间关联性不同,纯林样地中,幼苗与幼树在1—2 m小尺度上呈负相关,幼树与中龄树在8 m尺度呈正相关,其余各生长阶段之间在任意尺度上均无关联性;混交林样地中,幼树与中龄树在2—12 m尺度上表现为正相关,其余各生长阶段之间在各尺度上均无关联。在未来的森林经营中,应对不同发育阶段、不同生境的种群进行不同抚育措施,促进种群良性发育。     

Spatial distribution of canopy and subcanopy species along a sloping topography in a cool-temperate conifer-hardwood forest in the snowy region of Japan

The spatial distributions of canopy and subcanopy species (50cm stem length) were investigated within a plot extending from the top of a ridge to the valley bottom in a cool-temperate old-growth mixed forest, dominated by Cryptomeria japonica and Fagus crenata, in the snowy region of Japan. Based on the longitudinal profile of the slope, the study slope was divided into the relatively gentle upper slope position (US), the steep lower slope position (LS), the flat valley bottom (VB) and the boundary zone between the upper and lower slopes (BS). Spatial dispersal and the association patterns of species were analyzed in upperstory (10cm d.b.h) and understory (<10cm d.b.h) layers. Dominant species in the upperstory layer abruptly changed from Cryptomeria to Fagus at the BS site. In contrast, the understory trees of many species, including shade-intolerant and evergreen species, were independent of the location of conspecific upperstory trees or canopy gaps and extended their distributions on and around the BS site. Significant, diverse canopy and subcanopy species occurred at this site in both upperstory and understory layers. On the BS site, which is the lower margin of Cryptomeria-dominated vegetation, there were many medium-sized C.japonica that were killed by uprooting or breaking of the stems as a result of heavy snow pressure. It is suggested that the snow pressure gradient along a slope has a strong influence on community structure and the maintenance of diverse canopy and subcanopy species in this snowy mixed forest.     

气候变化情景下中国荒漠锦鸡儿潜在适生区的时空变化分析

荒漠锦鸡儿是一种强旱生矮灌木,主要分布在荒漠草原和草原化荒漠中。该研究以植物志和数字标本库中获取的130条记录生成的荒漠锦鸡儿分布记录样点图为基础,运用组合模型(ESDM)模拟荒漠锦鸡儿在末次冰盛期、全新世中期、当前和未来(2030s)气候情景下的潜在地理分布,通过ArcGIS计算适生区面积及质心迁移轨迹,探讨末次冰盛期以来气候变迁对荒漠锦鸡儿分布的影响,为气候变化背景下荒漠锦鸡儿的保护提供理论基础。结果表明:(1)降水因子对荒漠锦鸡儿分布的影响高于温度因子和地形因子。(2)当前荒漠锦鸡儿的中、高适生区面积为10.172×10^(5) km^(2),质心位于阿拉善左旗。(3)末次冰盛期质心向东南迁移至全新世中期质心,继而向东北迁移至当前质心,荒漠锦鸡儿能较好地适应末次冰盛期寒冷干燥的环境。(4)在未来RCP2.6、RCP4.5和RCP6.0情景下,荒漠锦鸡儿中、高适生区面积均成增加趋势,但RCP8.5情景下的适生区面积却比当前减少了1.981×105 km^(2)。研究推测,轻度的气候变暖有利于荒漠锦鸡儿的生存与分布。     

The Use of Artificial Benthic Collectors for Assessment of Spatial Patterns of Settlement of Megalopae of Carcinus maenas (L.) (Brachyura: Portunidae) in the Lower Mira Estuary, Portugal

Artificial benthic collectors have been widely used for the assessment of settlement rates of decapod crustaceans. However, to date no consistent works have addressed spatial patterns of settlement in different estuarine habitats, and no specific studies targeted the interaction of artificial surfaces with the surrounding natural substrate. It may be expected that the artificial surface may produce a different thigmotactic response when compared to the natural substrate, which may limit the use of this technique for assessment of natural settlement rates. In this study the settlement rates of megalopae of the estuarine crab Carcinus maenas were addressed, specifically deploying artificial benthic collectors in different habitats both intertidal and subtidal in the lower Mira estuary. A number of experiments were performed concerning stratification and temporal fluctuations of settlement. Further, the interaction of collector surface with the surrounding substrate was investigated, by comparing settlement rates in natural and artificial substrates in different habitats. Results have shown significant differences in settlement between different estuarine habitats, both in spatially replicated experiments and in a high-resolution temporal experiment. However, comparison between settlement rates in artificial and natural substrates has shown that there is a strong interference between collectors and surrounding substrate, limiting interpretation of results concerning settlement rates in artificial substrate alone.     

吉林蛟河针阔混交林树木生长的空间关联格局

以吉林蛟河21.12hm2(660m×320m)针阔混交林样地为对象,利用2009年和2014年森林生长观测数据,研究树木生长的空间自相关格局及其生境影响机制。在样地生境型划分结果的基础上,采用Ripley's L(r)函数分析不同生境型中树木种群空间分布特征;利用标记相关函数分析不同生境型中树木生长特征的空间关联格局。研究结果表明:(1)红松(生境型3:1—5m)、蒙古栎(生境型3:1—3m)、胡桃楸(生境型2:1—2m;生境型3:1—7m)、黄檗(生境型2:1—3m;生境型4:1—5m)、水曲柳(生境型3:1—2m;生境型4:1—2m)、瘤枝卫矛(生境型2:1—15m)在特定生境和空间尺度上呈随机分布,但空间格局仍以聚集性分布为主;其余10个物种则在全部0—30m尺度上呈聚集分布。(2)标记相关函数分析显示春榆、毛榛、色木槭、瘤枝卫矛和千金榆的径向生长至少在一个生境中表现出正相关格局;暴马丁香、胡桃楸、裂叶榆、瘤枝卫矛、水曲柳、紫椴、糠椴、毛榛、色木槭和白牛槭的径向生长至少在一个生境中表现出负相关格局;红松、黄檗、蒙古栎和簇毛槭的径向生长在全部尺度上均未检测到显著的空间关联格局。因此,不同树种径向生长的空间自相关特征不同,树种生长特征的空间关联格局具有明显的生境依赖性。     

土壤水分及其垂直分布对内蒙古草原冰草和冷蒿竞争的影响

内蒙古退化冷蒿草原围封恢复演替3-4年,植物群落更替出现半灌木冷蒿（Artemisia frigida）向禾草冰草（Agropyron cristatum）群落突然转变的现象,这对内蒙古草原植被恢复具有积极的作用,但目前关于冰草-冷蒿演替和竞争机制的研究鲜见报道。水分作为草原植被生长的主要限制因子,是影响群落演替的重要因素。气候干旱和过度放牧导致草原土壤水分垂直分布发生明显变化。由于冰草和冷蒿的根系分布深浅不同,土壤水分垂直变化可能会影响冰草-冷蒿的竞争。为探讨土壤水分及其垂直分布对冰草和冷蒿竞争的影响,本盆栽试验设置冰草、冷蒿单种以及混种处理,并进行不同土壤深度（0-30cm,30-60cm）的水分处理（上干下湿、上湿下干、上干下干）,结果表明：（1）与冷蒿相比,冰草受土壤水分变化影响显著,相对于上干下干处理,冰草在湿润（上干下湿或者上湿下干）处理的地上、地下生物量均显著增加,而冷蒿没有显著变化;（2）上干下湿和上湿下干处理间,冰草、冷蒿的地上、地下总生物量和根长差异均不显著;（3）不同水分处理,冰草和冷蒿的根系均可分布在30-60cm土壤中,且土壤30-60cm层冰草单种的根生物量和根长显著高于冷蒿单种;（4）相对竞争强度和竞争攻击力系数表明：湿润处理冰草的竞争力大于冷蒿;上干下干处理冷蒿的竞争力大于冰草。土壤水分变化引起冰草、冷蒿的明显竞争,上湿下干与上干下湿处理间冰草与冷蒿竞争力差异不显著。由于冰草和冷蒿均为多年生物种,冰草-冷蒿的竞争实验仍需在今后的研究中反复地验证。     

青藏高原东缘林线杜鹃-岷江冷杉原始林的空间格局

为深入理解高山林线原始林中优势树种的空间结构特征和种间关系,以青藏高原东缘林线杜鹃-岷江冷杉原始林1 hm²样地调查数据为基础,采用成对相关函数g(r)函数,分析了优势种岷江冷杉(Abies faxoniana)和凝毛杜鹃(Rhododendron agglutinatum)各径级的空间分布格局和各径级间的空间关联性。结果表明:岷江冷杉和凝毛杜鹃径级分布连续,呈倒"J"型,均为进展种群。小尺度上,对于岷江冷杉活立木(小树+中树+大树)、小树、中树为显著聚集分布,大树为均匀分布,死树则为随机分布;凝毛杜鹃活立木(小树+中树+大树)、小树、中树、大树、死树均为显著聚集分布。小尺度上随径级增大岷江冷杉的分布格局从聚集分布趋于均匀分布。岷江冷杉大树与其小树的空间关联验证了Janzen-Connell假说中的距离制约效应。通过验证接受了随机死亡假说,发现种内的密度制约效应不明显。两个树种的枯立木对凝毛杜鹃小树均表现为排斥关系,而对岷江冷杉小树表现为相互独立的关系。两个优势种总体表现为相互独立,但种间不同径级间的空间关联性各异。